Cash-box system with sensor

ABSTRACT

Cashbox arrangement, having a transportable cashbox ( 10 ) and a fixed base plate ( 20 ), to which the cashbox ( 10 ) can be locked, and having a bolt ( 30 ) in the interior of the cashbox ( 10 ) which can be unlocked only when the cashbox lid ( 18 ) is open. Arranged in the cashbox ( 10 ) is a sensor ( 34 ), which registers the unlocking and/or the removal of the cashbox ( 10 ) from the base plate ( 20 ) and reports an information signal to a monitoring device via a signal path.

The invention relates to a cashbox arrangement according to the preambleof claim 1.

A cashbox arrangement of the said type, having a transportablecash-register controlled cashbox is disclosed by EP 0 560 292 B1. Thecashbox can be placed onto a stationary base plate and locked to it.Arranged on the base plate is a retaining projection which, when thecashbox is placed on it, reaches through a slot in its base plate andlatches with a bolt in the interior of the cashbox. For the purpose ofunlocking, an unlocking element which is accessible only when thecashbox lid is open is operated manually. The opening of the lid istriggered by an electrical signal output by a cash register. Since sucha cashbox must also be detachable from the base plate in the event offailure of the cash register or of the power supply, a so-calledemergency unlocking means, which can be operated manually, is providedat a hidden point on the cashbox which cannot be seen by a customer. Thehidden arrangement of this emergency unlocking means is, however, aprotection against manipulations on the cashbox, such as unwarrantedopening or unauthorized removal from the base plate, only as long as theconstructional design of the cashbox arrangement is unknown.

WO 95/21420 A1 discloses an arrangement for the electronic marking ofarticles. This is used for marking the prices of articles offered forsale in particular in the racks of a department store. It comprises acentral station, which transmits article information wirelessly as aradio transmission, and a multiplicity of product labels with a receiverfor these radio transmissions. The product label disclosed by WO95/21420 A1 also contains a transmitter, which is able to transmitinformation in response to a request signal.

It is an object of the invention to increase the security of cashboxesagainst unwarranted access.

For a cashbox arrangement of the type described at the beginning, theobject is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

The invention is based on the idea that specific preconditions have tobe met before a cashbox can be permitted to be released from the baseplate. A cashier, when starting work, is given a cashbox which he or sheplaces onto the base plate at his or her cash desk and then, by enteringhis or her user number via a keyboard, or with the aid of anelectronically readable pass, logs into a data processing devicecontrolling the cash register.

Before any permissible removal of the cashbox, the cashier logs off fromthe data processing device. If, however, the cashbox is detached fromthe base plate with the cashier logged on, this is an indication of anattempt at manipulation, in response to which an alarm can be triggered.Particularly simple and nevertheless reliable reporting of manipulationson the cashbox is achieved in that in the cashbox there is arranged asensor, which registers the unlocking and/or the removal of the cashboxfrom the base plate, and reports an information signal to a monitoringdevice via a signal path. The arrangement of the sensor within thecashbox makes the blocking of the sensor, performed with fraudulentintent, virtually impossible. Such blocking is in particular ineffectiveif the switching states and switching changes of the sensor before andas the cashbox is placed onto the base plate, and/or the logging-on andlogging-off procedure of the cashier are evaluated in the monitoringdevice in order to trigger an alarm.

The sensor preferably monitors the position of the cashbox,corresponding to the locked position, with respect to the base plateand/or the position of the retaining projection in its position latchedin the cashbox.

The sensor can be designed as an electrical switch, in particular as amicroswitch, whose operating element projects into the displacement pathof the retaining projection. As an alternative to this, the sensor canbe a light barrier registering the position of the retaining projectionor a capacitive or inductive proximity switch, which senses its distancefrom the retaining projection or from the base plate.

The transmission of the information signal is in the simplest caserouted via a line carrying an operating signal for unlocking the cashboxlid. This renders additional electrical installations superfluous.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor isconnected to a transmitter or transmitter/receiver which is located inthe cashbox and whose output signal, as an information signal, is routedvia a wireless signal path.

For this purpose, the transmitter or transmitter/receiver can beincorporated into a wireless LAN network, via which the informationsignal is routed to the monitoring device. Such LAN networks arefrequently used in any case, particularly in cash desk installationswith many cash registers, in order to connect the cash registers to acentral computer. The incorporation of the transmitter ortransmitter/receiver therefore does not entail any additionalexpenditure for the signal transmission. A wireless LAN network isconstructed either as an infrared or radio LAN, so that the transmitteror transmitter/receiver in the cashbox must be constructedappropriately.

The transmitter or transmitter/receiver used can also be an electronicproduct label incorporated into an arrangement for electronic articlemarking, as disclosed by WO 95/21420 A1. The known product label alsocontains a transmitter, which is able to transmit information inresponse to a request signal. Such a product label can be fitted in oron the cashbox with simple means, and the sensor can be connected to itssignal input. If the information signal from the sensor is provided as arequest signal to the signal input of the product label, then itstransmission channel can be used as a wireless signal path.

A product label of the said type is available as a mass-produced itemand has its own power supply. The incorporation of the transmitter ortransmitter/receiver of a product label fitted in or on the cashbox intothe arrangement for electronic article marking therefore does notsignify any additional outlay. A further advantage of the use of anelectronic product label is that its indicating device, which is presentin any case, can be used to indicate information transmitted to thecashier by the monitoring device, for example a warning about a thiefwho is in the store.

In the following text, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will beexplained using the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cashbox and a base plate onto which the cashbox can beplaced,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a cash register arrangement anda block diagram thereof.

A cashbox 10 shown in FIG. 1 substantially comprises a lower cashboxpart 12 and a cashbox lid 18 which is arranged such that it can bepivoted about a horizontal axis 16 on the lower cashbox part 12. Anopening 15 is integrally molded into a wall 14 which closes off thelower cashbox part 12 from the outside.

The cashbox 10 can be transported independently of a cash register 50illustrated in FIG. 2. For its operational use, it is placed onto a baseplate 20, for example arranged at a fixed location at a cash desk. Thelower cashbox part 12 has on its underside a recess 22, which is able toaccommodate a functional subassembly 24 arranged on the base plate 20.On its side facing the front side of the cashbox 10, the recess 22 isbounded by the wall 14. The functional subassembly comprises a retainingprojection 26 having a latching recess 28 and an electromagnet 48 whichis shown in FIG. 2 and, in order to unlock the cashbox lid 18, can bedriven by means of an electrical operating signal output, for example,by the cash register 50.

Arranged in the interior of the lower cashbox part 12 is a bolt 30 witha mating latch 32 intended to engage in the latching recess 28. Alsolocated in the lower cashbox part 12 is a switching element 34, which isoperated by the retaining projection 26 arranged on the base plate 20,as will be described further below.

FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic illustration, a cash register arrangementand a block diagram thereof. The cashbox 10 and the base plate 20, bothdescribed by FIG. 1, are parts of the cash register arrangement.

Recurring parts bear the same reference symbols. Fitted in the cashbox10 or on its outside, preferably on the outside of the cashbox lid 18,is a product label 40, as disclosed by WO 95/21420 A1. The arrangementof the product label 40 on the cashbox lid 18 has the advantage that itsindicating device 44 is always in the field of view of the cashier. Theproduct label 40 comprises a product-label processor 42, to whose signalinput 43 the switching element 34 is connected. In addition, theindicating device 44 and a first wireless bidirectional signaltransmission device 46 are connected to the product-label processor 42.The electromagnet 48 which releases the cashbox lid 18 is connected toan interface circuit (not illustrated) in the cash register 50, it beingpossible for the latter to be operated from a cash-register keyboard 52.

Incorporated into the cashbox 10 is a further switching element 64which, when the cashbox lid 18 is unlocked and opened, is located in itsopen position and, as a result of closing the cashbox lid 18, is broughtby the latter into its closed position. The further switching element 64is connected to a second input 66 of the product-label processor 42.

Incorporated into the cash register 50 is a second signal transmissiondevice 54. The cash register arrangement further comprises a centralstation 56 having a central computer 58, which is connected togetherwith a third signal transmission device 60 and a central monitoringdevice 62.

In order to connect the cashbox 10 to the base plate 20, the cashbox 10is placed onto the base plate 20 from above and then pushed rearwardcounter to the force of a spring (not illustrated), as indicated by themovement arrow 36. As it is put into place, the functional subassembly24 engages in the recess 22 and, as the cashbox 10 is displaced, slidesrearward into the position 24′ shown dash-dotted, the retainingprojection 26 passing through the opening 15 into the interior of thelower cashbox part 12. At the same time, the bolt 30 is deflected by theretaining projection 26 into its position shown dashed and finallylatches with its mating latch 32 into the latching recess 28.

As the cashbox 10 is displaced rearward, the retaining projection 26operates the switching element 36, which then outputs an informationsignal “cashbox in operating position”. This signal is transmitted viathe first signal transmission device 46, the third signal transmissiondevice 60 and the central computer 58 to the monitoring device 62. Thecashier then enters his or her user number into the cash register 50 viathe cash-register keyboard 52 or with the aid of an electronicallyreadable pass (not illustrated), and therefore logs into the monitoringdevice 62 via the second signal transmission device 54, the third signaltransmission device 60 and the central computer 58. The monitoringdevice 62 is then switched to “active”.

Before the cashbox 10 is released from the base plate 20, the cashierlogs off from the monitoring device 62 by means of an appropriate entryon the cash-register keyboard 52. This information is transmitted viathe same transmission path as the cashier log-on. The cashbox lid 18 isthen opened by the electrical operating signal output to theelectromagnet 48 by the cash register 50. This makes the bolt 30accessible. This is then pressed manually downward, in the direction ofthe arrow 38, into its position shown dashed, the latching with thelatching recess 28 being canceled. The switching element 34 outputs aninformation signal “cashbox out of operating position” to the monitoringdevice 62, but the latter expects this message and does not trigger analarm. The spring then pushes the cashbox 10 forward, so that the lattercan be taken upward off the base plate 20.

This is similarly true of the operational opening of the cashbox lid 18during a cash-registering operation. The conclusion of each transactionis reported to the monitoring device 62 by the cash register 50. Thecash register 50 then sends an operating signal to the electromagnet 48,the cashbox lid 18 is unlocked and the further switching element outputsan information signal “cashbox opened” to the monitoring device 62,which has been expecting this information signal within a specific timeperiod and therefore does not trigger an alarm.

If the cashbox 10 is released from the base plate 20 with the cashierlogged in, the switching element 34 outputs the information signal“cashbox out of operating position” to the monitoring device 62, whichthen triggers an alarm. If the cashbox lid 18 is opened without anyprevious information about the conclusion of a transaction, the alarmwill likewise be triggered.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cashbox arrangement, comprising a transportable cashbox (10) with a lower cashbox part (12) and a cashbox lid (18) and a fixed base plate (20), to which the cashbox (10) can be locked, for which purpose the base plate (20) has a retaining projection (26) which, when the cashbox (10) is placed onto the base plate (20), reaches through an opening (15) in a wall (14) of the lower cashbox part (12) and latches with a bolt (30) in the interior of the cashbox (10), it being possible for the bolt (30) to be unlocked only when the cashbox lid (18) is open, characterized in that there is arranged in the cashbox (10) a sensor (34), which registers the unlocking and/or the removal of the cashbox (10) from the base plate (20), and in that the sensor (34) is connected to a transmitter or transmitter/receiver (46) which is located in the cashbox (10) and transmits an information signal to a monitoring device (62) via a wireless signal path (43, 42, 46, 60, 58).
 2. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a further sensor (64), which registers the unlocking and/or the opening of the cashbox lid, is connected to the transmitter or transmitter/receiver (46), which transmits a further information signal to the monitoring device (62).
 3. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the information signal or else the further information signal is routed to the monitoring device (62) via a wireless LAN network.
 4. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter or transmitter/receiver used is a signal transmission device (4 b) of an electronic product label (40) known per se, which is fitted in or on the cashbox (10) and to whose signal input the sensor (34) or else the further sensor (64) is connected.
 5. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (34) monitors the position of the cashbox (10), corresponding to the locked position, with respect to the base plate (20), and/or the position of the retaining projection (26) in its position latched in the cashbox (10).
 6. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is an electrical switching element (34), in particular a microswitch, whose operating element projects into the displacement path of the retaining projection (26).
 7. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is a light barrier that registers the position of the retaining projection (26).
 8. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is a capacitive or inductive proximity switch, which senses its distance from the retaining projection (26) or from the base plate (20).
 9. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the further sensor is designed as a switching element (64), in particular as a microswitch, or as a light barrier or as a capacitive or inductive proximity switch.
 10. The cashbox arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the switching states and/or switching changes of the sensor (34) before and as the cashbox (10) is placed onto the base plate (20), or else those of the further sensor (64) and/or a logging-in or logging-off procedure of a cashier are evaluated in the monitoring device (62) in order to trigger an alarm.
 11. A cashbox arrangement, comprising a transportable cashbox (10) with a lower cashbox part (12) and a cashbox lid (18) and a fixed base plate (20), to which the cashbox (10) can be locked, for which purpose the base plate (20) has a retaining projection (26) which, when the cashbox (10) is placed onto the base plate (20), reaches through an opening (15) in a wall (14) of the lower cashbox part (12) and latches with a bolt (30) in the interior of the cashbox (10), it being possible for the bolt (30) to be unlocked only when the cashbox lid (18) is open, characterized in that there is arranged in the cashbox (10) a sensor (34), which, registers the unlocking and/or the removal of the cashbox (10) from the base plate (20) and outputs an information signal, and in that in the cashbox (10) there is additionally arranged a further sensor (64) which registers the unlocking and/or the opening of the cashbox lid and outputs a further information signal, and in that the information signal or else the further information signal is routed to a monitoring device (62) via a line carrying an operating signal for unlocking the cashbox lid (18). 